My Grandfather’s Clock

My grandfather worked for the U.S. Postal service in Russellville Ky. When I was very young, I spent a lot of time with him. I remember when supper was over he would get up and go into the living room and wind his clocks. He had one, a mantel clock that I have today. He would open the face, get the key and wind it ever so carefully. He had a special time every day. A routine so he would not forget. After that he and I would take a stroll around the streets of Russellville. He would tell me about, the history of Russellville. For instance Jesse James robbed the bank, (now a Library) (probably closed today). Our relationship with our Heavenly father needs to be just like the relationship my grandfather had with his clocks. Every day at the same time we need to get our mainspring retightened. If I go without this maintenance, I can tell. Things don’t go right for me. Things that usually don’t bother me do. For me the best time is in the morning before I do anything I set down and read my bible and pray. Do you get your spring recharged? You need to.    posted by Steve Waltrip

A Challenge of Integrity

 In the pacific North West there was a tribe of Indians. They were in need of choosing a new chief. The chief they had was growing old and wouldn’t live much longer. So the medicine man of the tribe chose three young braves to go through a test to determine which one would be worthy of the job.They each came to the medicine man separately, and he explained the task to them individually. He explained to the first: go to the top of the mountain and bring me a branch from the tree that grows on the top.The first brave took off on his journey and climbed all day but never reached the top.  Instead he stopped and took a branch from the nearest plant and took it to the medicine man. The medicine man told the brave that he would not be the new chief because the branch he brought was not the plant that grew on top.The second brave was given his set of instructions as was the first, and he took off for the top. He climbed as far as he could and stopped with exhaustion. He also took a branch from a plant nearby and returned down the mountain to the medicine man, and presented him with his branch. The medicine man told him also that he would not be chief because he too had brought a branch from a plant that did not grow on the top.The third brave was summoned and given the same set of instructions. Bring the branch from the top of the mountain. He set off on his journey, past where the other two braves had stopped and finally made it to the top. So captivated with the magnificent view he sat down and soaked in the beauty. After a while he decided to climb down. After he was almost down he remembered he hadn’t collected the branch as instructed. He went to the medicine man and told him what he had done. At this the medicine man told him he was the new chief because nothing grows on the top of the mountain.The moral of this story is, enjoy your mountain top experiences, they are needed at times but remember, nothing grows on the mountain top. Only in the valley do we obtain growth. Post by Steve Waltrip

Hitting the Mark

Are you a good shot?  Would you consider yourself a marksman?  It is fun to swap stories of difficult shots taken and made.  But there is a humbling truth:  Even the best marksman will sometimes miss.

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
       nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Proverbs 19:2) 

I have been taught that a person is more likely to miss if he rushes his shot.  It is strange to me that many men who are meticulous hunters who will study a shot to make it sure may be the same men who “rush” through their Christian lives.  There are many men who are zealous for the Lord but really know little about Him.  It is even possible that some men are so hasty in their faith that they have gone through the motions but have not really placed faith in Jesus Christ.  These men have really missed the target and run the risk of still being lost.

Many men love hunting.  Others love competitive sports.  Do you love the Lord?  Do you love him enough to read about him, learn his principles, and live for him?  That is part of the meaning of following Jesus as Lord.

I like to hit my shot, whether it is shooting a rifle or a basketball.  I would like to hit the mark with Jesus as well.  How about you?

Making an Impact

We have heard a lot of talk this week about making an impact.  I would like us to think about this for a moment.  A chisel makes an impact on stone.  It does not do anything but is only a piece of steel until it is in the hands of the mason and is struck by the hammer.  The hammer makes an impact on the chisel.  The hammer does not do anything but is only a piece of wood and steel until it is in the hands of the mason.  Both chisel and hammer have the potential to make an impact — but they cannot do it without the hands of the mason.

Men of God have the potential to be chisels and hammers.  We will never accomplish anything apart from the master mason.  We must place our lives, our wills, out thoughts, and our actions in the hands of Jesus.  Only then will we make an impact.

Looking for Deer

It is time for deer season.  Many will be headed to the woods to hunt for that special trophy kill.  In the woods a few minutes can quickly turn to a few hours.  A sunny fall day in the woods is one of the most relaxing places to be on earth.  It is place to get away from the busy world and find peace and serenity.

Psalm 42:1-2 uses these images from the woods:

As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 

David and the other writers of Psalms were well acquainted with the imagery of hunting and wildlife in the woods.  The image of a deer panting for cool water describe the longings of our hearts for God.

Some hunters can’t get enough of the woods.  Have you ever been at the point that you cannot get enough of God?  It may be time in our lives to take advice from a thirsty deer and “pant” for God.